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Upload your PDF notes and get flashcards in minutes

DeckOwl reads your PDF, slides, notes or photos of pages and builds flashcards you can study with spaced repetition. Free to start.

Create flashcards nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates flashcards in seconds

Uploading a PDF and turning it into flashcards

Starting from a lecture PDF is usually the quickest route: upload a PDF to make flashcards by choosing the file, letting the tool pull out the text, and checking the cards it produces. DeckOwl accepts PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text and photos of pages, so a scanned handout works too.

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text file or photo of a page
Review each card before you start studying
Study in the browser with spaced repetition
Export to Anki, CSV, PDF or DOCX on the Plus plan

Example cell biology flashcards from a lecture PDF

What organelle produces most of a cell's ATP?The mitochondrion, through cellular respiration, with its inner membrane hosting the electron transport chain.

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?It modifies, sorts and packages proteins and lipids for transport within or out of the cell.

What is osmosis?The net movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

How do eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotic cells?Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells lack both.

What does the rough endoplasmic reticulum do?It has ribosomes on its surface and helps fold and process proteins destined for secretion or membranes.

Generate the full set

Works with your own files

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or images of pages. Photos are read with text recognition.

Spaced repetition built in

Cards you miss come back sooner, and cards you know fade into longer gaps between reviews.

More than flashcards

The same upload can also become quizzes with explanations or a mind map of the main ideas.

How it works

Upload your file

Choose the PDF from your device or drag it into the upload box.

Review the cards

Check the flashcards DeckOwl generated and keep the ones that cover what your course tests.

Study with spaced repetition

Work through the deck in your browser and let the schedule bring back the cards you find hard.

Instead of copying terms by hand, you start from the file you already have. Upload the PDF, review the generated cards, and keep only the ones that match what your course will test. Then study them in the browser on a spaced repetition schedule.

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study with no credit card needed. If you want exports to PDF, DOCX, Anki or CSV, the Plus plan is $39/year or $7.99/month, and students get 40% off with a school email.

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Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make from one lecture PDF?

Aim for one card per key term, definition or cause-and-effect relationship. Skip sentences that only repeat an example, and add more cards for the topics you find hardest.

What is the best way to study flashcards made from a PDF?

Review new cards daily and let spaced repetition bring back the ones you miss. Say each answer aloud before flipping the card to check yourself.

Can I export my flashcards to Anki?

Yes, Anki export is included on the Plus plan at $39/year or $7.99/month. The free plan lets you study in the browser without exports.

Is it free to upload a PDF and make flashcards?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month with no credit card needed to start. Students get 40% off with a school email.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.